Whiplash Treatment in Boise, Idaho
Only 50% of the people injured in a motor vehicle collision ever fully recover, 25% of these people become disabled with permanent pain. Anyone who has ever been affected by a whiplash incident can tell you how painful the injury can be. Fortunately for the Boise area and community, Optimal Spine & Posture is here to provide you the best treatment for these types of injuries so they do not affect your health and well being in the long-term.
What is whiplash?
Most auto-related whiplash injuries occur when occupants of a stopped car are hit unexpectedly by another car from the side or from behind. When one vehicle strikes another vehicle the forces are transferred to the vehicle’s occupant (s). The biomechanics of a whiplash auto injury can result in an s-shaped neck curve where the lower cervical spine goes into extension and the upper cervical spine goes into flexion. This creates an alteration of a normal c-shaped cervical spine seen on X-ray. This alteration can lead to long-term pain and disability.
Did You Suffer From a Whiplash Injury?
When there is a sudden acceleration or deceleration, for example in a motor vehicle crash, this can cause significant injuries to the body. During a whiplash event, your head can be violently jerked beyond normal ranges of motion, and the muscles and/or ligaments that support the head, neck, and spine can be stretched or even torn during the incident. This can result in severe pain and inflammation.
One of the most common scenarios for a whiplash injury to occur is when an occupant of a vehicle is unexpectedly hit from the side or from behind by another vehicle, which causes forces of the moving vehicle to be transferred to the individuals inside of the vehicle. As you might expect, this can cause major injuries for those in the car on the receiving end of the forces involved. Whiplash can occur in many other ways as well, for instance from a sports injury or a slip and fall.
There are a number of symptoms associated with whiplash, and you could experience any or all of these at once, or a delayed onset over time:
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Upper back pain
- Low back pain
- Shoulder pain or discomfort
- Tingling in arms and hands
- Pain in the jaw (TMJ)
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Ringing in the ears
- Irritability
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Insomnia or troubles sleeping
When you experience any combination of these symptoms after a sudden jerk or stoppage, it is very likely that you have suffered an injury to the spine. In almost all cases, the inflammation and pain from a whiplash type of injury will not resolve on its own, especially if you have knocked vertebrae out of normal alignment visible on X-ray findings. It is highly advisable that you seek treatment with a reputable Boise whiplash specialist such as Optimal Spine & Posture. We have the knowledge and experience you need in a whiplash provider as you recover from your injuries.
There is never a general chiropractic treatment that can be used on all patients that have suffered from whiplash. Injuries to the spine and surrounding tissues caused by a sudden jerking of the neck and head will affect people in very different ways. This can depend on their position at the time of impact, their general health condition, being male or female and the forces involved in the impact. However, there are some generalized treatments that are frequently applicable, depending on what anatomy is injured in the event. Here are some of the ways you might be treated for whiplash at our Boise whiplash clinic:
- Muscle and soft tissue therapy – sometimes muscles can be strained or torn following a whiplash incident, and this form of therapy is designed to help them relax and heal
- Therapeutic exercise – exercising the muscles in the affected areas of the body can help aid in the healing process, help blood flow and muscle recruitment
- Spinal adjustments – optimize joint movement during the healing process with light, low force adjustments
- Ergonomic and/or lifestyle changes – the process of healing can often be expedited by using body-friendly chairs and other accessories, and in some cases, changes to lifestyle will help the healing process.
- Referral to other health care professionals – we frequently refer our injured patients to other experts in certain injuries to co-manage your case and help ensure you have the best chance of fully recovering from your injuries.
Have you recently been in a Car Crash? Call our Whiplash Injury Clinic today!
Pay attention to more than just your car. You could have a whiplash auto injury even if your car has minimal to no damage. Research has shown these injures can occur in crashes where the vehicle is traveling at 5mph!
How do you feel? Watch for emerging neck and back pain, also nausea. In many cases, symptoms of an injury don’t appear until a few days after the auto crash. Immediately following a crash stress hormones, such as adrenalin, are elevated and the injuries are masked initially.
How will I pay for the treatment from an Auto Injury?
Don’t worry. Your auto insurance company should include Medical Payment Coverage (Med-Pay) that will pay for reasonable medical expenses resulting from an auto accident. This includes chiropractic, spinal rehab and massage treatments. If you or your passengers are hurt, your insurance will help – regardless of which driver was at fault. Using your Med-Pay will NOT raise your car insurance rates.
In Idaho, Med-Pay coverage will pay for some or all of your medical expenses, regardless of who is at fault. Insurance carriers are required to provide $5000-$10,000 in medical coverage unless the individual specifically opted out of Med-Pay. If there is no Med-Pay or Med-Pay has been exhausted then either the injured individual’s health insurance or the at-fault driver’s car insurance can be billed for medical care related to the auto injury.
Contact us today at Optimal Spine & Posture to schedule a consultation to see if you are a candidate for care based on the injuries you sustained in a crash. Our skilled team in Boise, ID is trained in the management of traumatic injuries and has a great deal of experience in treating whiplash and finding the source of your pain and discomfort.
Call our Boise Whiplash Injury Clinic today to schedule an exam. We can give you the answers on what to do about your neck and spine pain from your whiplash injury.